ABSTRACT
Prior to the advent of the crisis in the economies of Southeast Asia in 1997, the performance of the Malaysian economy exemplified the ‘tiger’ economy image of the region, with annual real GDP growth since 1988 in excess of 7% (Table 8.1). Inflation throughout the period remained low despite the sustained growth performance. Prime lending rates for most of the period remained competitive with those in the principal investment centres of the region such as Hong Kong and Singapore. In general a very positive economic performance was combined with a conducive investment climate.
